21. What is the central conflict in Mrs. Dalloway?
a) Clarissa’s struggle with old age
b) The tension between past and present choices
c) The political unrest in London
d) A murder mystery involving Peter Walsh
Answer: b) The tension between past and present choices
Explanation: The novel explores Clarissa Dalloway’s inner conflict as she reflects on the choices of her youth and how they have shaped her present life. She questions whether she should have married Peter Walsh instead of Richard Dalloway and whether she has lived a meaningful life. The contrast between her past dreams and present reality creates a tension that runs throughout the novel, making it a deep exploration of memory, regret, and identity.
22. What does Clarissa regret about her youth?
a) Not pursuing a career in politics
b) Marrying Richard instead of Peter
c) Not being wealthy enough
d) Moving to London
Answer: b) Marrying Richard instead of Peter
Explanation: Clarissa often wonders whether her life would have been more passionate and fulfilling had she chosen Peter Walsh instead of Richard Dalloway. While Richard offers her stability and social respectability, Peter represents adventure, intensity, and unpredictability. However, Clarissa ultimately chose security over passion, and throughout the novel, she contemplates whether she made the right decision.
23. Which Shakespeare play is frequently referenced in Mrs. Dalloway?
a) Hamlet
b) Othello
c) Cymbeline
d) Macbeth
Answer: c) Cymbeline
Explanation: Woolf repeatedly references Shakespeare’s play Cymbeline, particularly the line “Fear no more the heat o’ the sun”, which symbolizes death and the acceptance of fate. The play’s themes of identity, fate, and loss align with the novel’s exploration of aging, memory, and mortality. The quote is also associated with Septimus’ death, reinforcing the idea of finding peace beyond life’s struggles.
24. What does Septimus often hallucinate about?
a) A shadow following him
b) His dead friend, Evans
c) A talking tree
d) Soldiers marching in London
Answer: b) His dead friend, Evans
Explanation: Septimus hallucinates about Evans, a close friend and fellow soldier who died in World War I. These visions symbolize his deep trauma and guilt over surviving when Evans did not. His hallucinations grow more intense as the novel progresses, leading to his ultimate mental breakdown and suicide. Through Septimus, Woolf critiques society’s failure to care for war veterans suffering from PTSD.
25. What does Peter Walsh carry with him and play with nervously?
a) A ring
b) A pocketknife
c) A letter from Clarissa
d) A cigarette case
Answer: b) A pocketknife
Explanation: Peter Walsh frequently fidgets with a pocketknife, which symbolizes his emotional instability and restlessness. The pocketknife represents his conflicted feelings about Clarissa, his insecurities, and his tendency to live in the past. His nervous habit reveals how deeply affected he is by his memories of Clarissa and his unresolved feelings for her.
26. How does Clarissa feel about death?
a) She fears it deeply
b) She believes it gives life meaning
c) She never thinks about it
d) She considers it a punishment
Answer: b) She believes it gives life meaning
Explanation: Clarissa sees death not as something to be feared but as something that gives significance to life. This perspective is reinforced when she hears about Septimus’ suicide—she perceives his act as an assertion of freedom and defiance against societal constraints. Woolf uses Clarissa’s reflections on death to explore existential themes, showing how mortality shapes human experiences and emotions.
27. How does Septimus die?
a) He jumps out of a window
b) He overdoses on medication
c) He drowns in a river
d) He shoots himself
Answer: a) He jumps out of a window
Explanation: Fearing confinement in a mental institution, Septimus chooses to end his life by jumping from a window. His suicide is an act of desperation but also resistance against a society that refuses to understand him. His death contrasts with Clarissa’s party, emphasizing the disconnect between personal suffering and public appearances. Clarissa later finds a deep connection with him, as both of them struggle with their roles in society.
28. What does Peter Walsh think of Clarissa’s party?
a) He believes it is a waste of time
b) He feels it is proof of her charm and influence
c) He admires her ability to host
d) He decides not to attend
Answer: b) He feels it is proof of her charm and influence
Explanation: Although Peter is often critical of Clarissa, he acknowledges that her party reflects her ability to bring people together. He recognizes her social grace and influence, even if he sees her role as a society hostess as superficial. However, as the novel ends, he is overwhelmed by his emotions while watching Clarissa, showing that his connection to her remains strong despite the years apart.
29. Why does Septimus refuse Dr. Holmes’ treatment?
a) He does not trust doctors
b) He believes doctors want to control him
c) He thinks he is not really sick
d) He prefers alternative medicine
Answer: b) He believes doctors want to control him
Explanation: Septimus perceives Dr. Holmes and Sir William Bradshaw as figures of oppression who seek to erase his individuality. Instead of helping him heal, they insist on controlling his emotions, treating him as a case rather than a person. Woolf critiques early 20th-century psychiatry, which often ignored mental illness and personal experiences, favoring institutionalization over understanding.
30. What does Clarissa see as her role in society?
a) A politician’s wife
b) A perfect hostess
c) A silent observer
d) A social critic
Answer: b) A perfect hostess
Explanation: Clarissa views herself primarily as a hostess, someone who connects people and maintains the social fabric of her elite circle. However, she also questions whether this role is meaningful or whether she has sacrificed deeper fulfillment for societal expectations. The novel explores her internal conflict, as she balances the public persona of a perfect hostess with her private thoughts about mortality, love, and regret.
31. What does Richard Dalloway struggle to express to Clarissa?
a) His political ambitions
b) His love for her
c) His feelings about their daughter
d) His concerns about her health
Answer: b) His love for her
Explanation: Richard Dalloway is a reserved and emotionally restrained character. Though he deeply cares for Clarissa, he struggles to verbalize his feelings. In one scene, he buys flowers for her, intending to say “I love you,” but ultimately fails to do so. This moment highlights the emotional distance in their marriage, where affection is implied but not openly communicated. It also contrasts with Peter Walsh’s passionate personality, emphasizing the trade-off between security and emotional intensity in Clarissa’s life.
32. Who is Miss Kilman?
a) Clarissa’s childhood friend
b) Elizabeth Dalloway’s history tutor
c) A doctor treating Septimus
d) Clarissa’s sister
Answer: b) Elizabeth Dalloway’s history tutor
Explanation: Miss Doris Kilman is Elizabeth Dalloway’s tutor, who represents a stark contrast to Clarissa in terms of class, ideology, and personality. She is deeply religious, bitter, and resentful towards those she perceives as privileged, particularly Clarissa. She also exerts a strong influence over Elizabeth, which makes Clarissa jealous and uneasy. Woolf uses Miss Kilman’s character to explore themes of class struggle, resentment, and the tension between traditional and modern values.
33. What does Sally Seton do later in life?
a) She moves to India
b) She marries and has five boys
c) She becomes a famous actress
d) She remains unmarried
Answer: b) She marries and has five boys
Explanation: Sally Seton was once a rebellious, free-spirited young woman, challenging social norms and passionately discussing politics with Clarissa and Peter. However, in later life, she settles into a conventional marriage and has five children. This transformation reflects the theme of lost idealism, showing how youthful passion and radical ideas often give way to societal expectations. Her presence at Clarissa’s party rekindles memories of their deep emotional and possibly romantic bond.
34. What is the significance of the skywriting airplane in the novel?
a) It symbolizes modernity and communication
b) It represents an omen of war
c) It is a reminder of colonial rule
d) It has no real significance
Answer: a) It symbolizes modernity and communication
Explanation: The skywriting airplane is a recurring image in the novel, drawing the attention of multiple characters. It represents the modern world’s increasing technological advancements and mass communication. While people look up at the sky, trying to decipher the letters being formed, Woolf subtly explores how people search for meaning in everyday life. The airplane also serves as a moment of shared experience, briefly connecting the scattered perspectives of different Londoners.
35. Who accompanies Septimus in Regent’s Park?
a) His old friend Evans
b) His psychiatrist
c) His wife, Lucrezia
d) Peter Walsh
Answer: c) His wife, Lucrezia
Explanation: Septimus spends much of his time in Regent’s Park with his wife, Lucrezia (Rezia) Smith, an Italian immigrant who struggles to understand his mental illness. She desperately tries to bring him back to reality, but his hallucinations and paranoia deepen his isolation. Her character highlights the emotional burden of caregivers and Woolf’s critique of society’s failure to address mental health issues compassionately.
36. What does Elizabeth Dalloway consider as a career?
a) Becoming a doctor
b) Becoming a politician
c) Both a and b
d) Joining the military
Answer: c) Both a and b
Explanation: Elizabeth Dalloway, Clarissa’s daughter, is independent and ambitious, in contrast to her mother’s focus on social life. She considers becoming a doctor or a politician, reflecting the changing role of women in the early 20th century. Woolf presents Elizabeth as a symbol of modern womanhood, suggesting that unlike her mother, she may pursue a life beyond traditional domestic roles.
37. Who is Hugh Whitbread?
a) A wealthy, conservative acquaintance of the Dalloways
b) A doctor treating Septimus
c) Peter Walsh’s business partner
d) Clarissa’s younger brother
Answer: a) A wealthy, conservative acquaintance of the Dalloways
Explanation: Hugh Whitbread is a superficial, self-important man who represents the conservatism and elitism of British society. He is more concerned with social appearances and royal connections than with meaningful relationships. Clarissa finds him somewhat pretentious and uninspiring, and his character serves as a critique of the shallow aristocratic circles that Woolf often scrutinized in her writing.
38. Why does Clarissa dislike Miss Kilman?
a) She believes Miss Kilman is too controlling over Elizabeth
b) She sees her as a religious fanatic
c) She resents Miss Kilman’s influence on her daughter
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Clarissa resents Miss Kilman for her intense influence over Elizabeth, fearing that she is pulling her daughter away from the values Clarissa holds dear. Additionally, Clarissa dislikes Miss Kilman’s religious fanaticism, which she finds oppressive and judgmental. There is also a class-based resentment—Miss Kilman, who comes from a lower social background, harbors bitterness towards the privileged elite, including Clarissa. Their conflict reflects the social and ideological tensions of the time.
39. Why is Lady Bruton interested in Richard Dalloway?
a) She wants him to help with an emigration plan
b) She hopes he will leave Clarissa for her
c) She wants him to join her business
d) She is his cousin
Answer: a) She wants him to help with an emigration plan
Explanation: Lady Bruton is a strong-willed, politically engaged woman who seeks Richard Dalloway’s assistance with her proposal to send British citizens to Canada. She values his political influence and writing skills but has little regard for Clarissa’s role as a social hostess. Lady Bruton’s character represents women in positions of power and intellect, contrasting with Clarissa’s more traditional, domestic role.
40. How does the novel Mrs. Dalloway end?
a) Clarissa and Richard decide to travel
b) Peter Walsh experiences an overwhelming emotion while watching Clarissa
c) Septimus’ death is revealed to all the guests
d) Clarissa runs away with Peter Walsh
Answer: b) Peter Walsh experiences an overwhelming emotion while watching Clarissa
Explanation: The novel concludes with Peter Walsh watching Clarissa at her party, feeling a mix of fear, excitement, and admiration. This final moment suggests that, despite the passage of time and all their past conflicts, he is still deeply drawn to her presence. The ending remains open-ended, leaving Peter’s emotions unresolved and reinforcing the novel’s themes of memory, longing, and the complexity of human relationships.
